Pump for refrigeration apparatus



y 1936- M. c. TERRY 2,040,507

PUMP FOR REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Original Filed May 2, 1931 F w L 24 5 L /5 A i it /9 W w F? \24 I I II 23 2/ 23a Y 2 I r -/5 I l -J 32 j\,;;, 33 if 40 25 20a.

k r 205 q /4 r j i2 33 f LUBRICANT LEI/EL ll/ my 36 3 WITNESSES: 29' 26 I INVENTOR m Maison G Terry.

ATTORNEY Patented- May 12, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Matson 0.

Terry, Detroit, Mich Westinghouse Electric &

Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania I Application May 2, 1931, Serial No.

Renewed May 9, 1935 12 Claims.

My invention relates to a pump for refrigeration apparatus and particularly to cooling and lubrication of the pump and working parts of mechanical refrigeration apparatus.

The electric motor of a mechanical refrigerator of the sealed motor-compressor type generates an appreciable amount of heat which must be dissipated to ensure proper lubrication of the bearings and protection for the windings of the motor. It is particularly diilicult to effect this cooling in motors which, for the sake of other desirable features of construction, are not in direct heat-conducting relation with the casing for the motor-compressor unit. The refrigeratusually in a gaseous state in the sealedcasing, does not conduct heat in suiiicientquantities to adequately cool the motor. This is found to be particularly true when the motor-compressor unit is connected with respect to the remainder of the refrigerating apparatus, so that low-pressure gas is present in the enclosing casing, and the rarefied gas in the casing is substantially the sole heat conductor from the motor to the casing walls, since the rate of heat transfer through a gas decreases with a decrease in pressure.

It has been suggested to cool the motor of an enclosed refrigerating machine by spraying lubricating medium over the motor parts and then pumping the heated lubricant to a coil disposed at a distance from-the motor-compressor casing and preferably located in the path of air circulated by the condenser cooling fan for cooling the lubricant.

Such a system requires, however, a considerable amount of conduit and requires the use of additional connections into the sealed casing, which lead to expensive and undesirable constructional diillculties.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to

001 the motor of an enclosed type refrigerating unit by transferring a substantial amount of the motor heat to the atmosphere through the intermediary of the lubricating medium, and without conveying the lubricant outside the casing.

Another object of my invention is to cool the lubricant in an enclosed type refrigerating apparatus without theuse of external lubricant conduits and their attendant connections.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a combined system of forced lubrication for the compressor and bearings of a mechanical apparatus and forced circulation of the lubricant for cooling the apparatus.

55 Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description and drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation ofa refrigerating system embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a lubricant pump and refrigerant compressor.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a lubricant pump taken on line IIIIII of Figure 2.

In applying my invention to a refrigerating system in which the motor and compressor are enclosed in a fluid tight casing with the motor suspended out of contact with the casing wall by means of springs, and in which casing the suction pressure of the system prevails, I providev a body of lubricant in the casing. This lubricant is positively circulated by a pump driven by the compressor driving motor, so as to lubricate the working parts of the motor and compressor. A large part of the lubricant is also caused to circulate in heat-exchanging relation with the air-cooled walls of the enclosing casing so that the heated lubricant is cooled. The flow of lubricant is in a path from the bottom of the casing and beneath the motor to the top of the casing above the motor, whereupon the cooled lubricant passes through a series of openings in the form of a spray and falls over the motor parts, absorbs heat therefrom, and then returns to the reservoir, where it is recirculated and cooled in a continuous cycle.

Referring to the drawing for a detailed description of one em 'diment of the-invention, Ill designates a substantially fluid-tight casing within which is enclosed a compressor l6 driven by a motor 1. The motor is mounted on springs II for the purpose of transmission of vibrations to the casing l0, whereby noise of operation is substantially lessened.

The motor 1 is provided with a stator l2 and a rotor I I. The motor is connected to a piston l5 of the compressor It by a' shaft l3 through an eccentric l4 and a piston rod 39 havinga lower bearing 40 and an upper bearing 40. v

The refrigerat g cycle is effected when the motor 1 is energized, thus roand the shaft l3, and reciprocating the piston it ofthe compressor it through the eccentric means it and thereby compressing refrigerant from the chamber 9.

Refrigerant is drawn from the casing 8 into the compressor 16 through an inlet port (not shown) by the suction thereof and the gas compressed thereby is forced through conduit 5 to condenser coils l, where it is cooled by a motor 66 40 with the passages chamber 2| thus formed pressor i3, and the cycle repeated. As shown freely into the casing ,3 and in turn, derives its supply of rectly from the casing I.

A reservoir of lubricating oil whose upper level is indicated at I. is maintained in the easing ill. The oil is circulated by a pump, here shown as a gear pump 23. The pump comprises a pair of intermeshing gears 2i and 23. The gear 2! which is of smaller diameter than the gear 23, is mounted on the main shaft l3, and rotated by movement thereof while the gear 23 is mounted on a stud shaft 33. The direction of rotation of the gears is shown by the arrows, whereby a low pressure chamber 23 exists on the right side of the gears (Fig. 2) and a high pressure chamber 2li on the left hand side of the gears, as is well understood in the art.

The motor-compressor casing l3, provided with longitudinal fins 3, is provided with an inner shell or casing 23 at the motor end, which is roller welded around its periphery at 24. The within the entire end of the casing 10, is connected to the gear pump by conduit 22, the Joint 23' of which may also be welded to ensure a good connection. Apertures 3! are provided at the top of the inner shell 23 above the motor I.

The casting 35, through which the shaft I3 is journaled, is provided with lubricant passages 32 and u, and the shaft l3, the eccentric l4, and the connecting rod 39 are provided with a lubricant passageway ll arranged in communication 32 and 34, as hereinafter dethe'compressor l3, refrigerant gas discribed.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: when the motor 1 is energized, the compressor i3 is operated and refrigerant is com At the same time, the gear 25 is'turned bythe shaft l3 and the gear pump 20 is, therefore, operated. Lubricant is lifted through a conduit 21, which conduit extends into the reservoir ll (Fig. 1), is conveyed to the low-pressure pump chamber 23', and is then forced through conduit 23 from the high pressure pump chamber 20" into a connecting conduit 22, flowing downwardly through conduit 22 into chamber 2|. Lubricant is also forced into a lubricant e 34 which e opens into the high-pressure side 2|" of the gear pump chamber.

Lubricant entering the passage 34 is forced into the elongated opening 42 in the casting 35 from whence it flows to the bearing surfaces designated at points 33, and through passages 32 and 33 to the piston l5. Lubricant also flows through the opening ll into the center opening 31 of the piston rod 39 thus lubricating the lower piston rod bearing 40 and the upper piston rod bearing 40* after which it is returned to the lubricant reservoir Is.

The portion of the lubricant which is pumped through conduit 22 enters into the space 2| between the shells l0 and 23. This lubricant is spread out between the shells, and by the time it reaches the top of the casing, it is completely cooled by its contact with the outer shell or casing it, which is, in turn, cooled by the flow of air created by the fan ejected through the passage 3| in the top of the 3. The cooled lubricant is casing 23, to bathe the motor I,'thus lowering the temperature of the latter, and then it returns to the reservoir II.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that I have invented an effective means for cooling and lubricating the motor and compressor of a mechanical refrigerator of the sealed casing type, without the necessity of outside pipes and connections, and preferably by the use of a pump, which provides a positive circulation of the oil both for cooling and lubrlcatins purposes. 15

Although I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it is understood that modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: T

1. In a mechanical refrigerating system. means providing a refrigerant circuit includlns a motorcompressor unit disposed in a hermetically sealed casing, means providins a circulatory lubricatas ing system for the'moving parts of the unit including-means affording contact of lubricant and the unit for cooling the latter, and means for cooling the lubricant including a chamber provided by inner and outer walls between which as lubricant is circulated in contact with said walls by said circulatory system, said outer wall constituting a portion of said casing and said inner wall constituting a stationary member located within the casing and spaced from said casing for a substantial portion of its-extent, whereby heat is transmitted from lubricant in the chamber through the outer wall thereof.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein the means providing for contact of the lubricant and the unit includes the chamber inner wall, said inner wall extending above the unit and havingaperture means therein for releasing lubricant over the motor.

3. In a mechanical refrigerating system a sealed casing, means disp sed within the casing for circulating a refrigerating medium comprising a motor and a compressor, means for cooling said motor comprising a reservoir of lubricant contained within said casing, ashell in said casing, forming, with the casing, a chamber, a pump for circulating lubricant, said pump and chamber being operatively connected, and means for releasing lubricant pumped into said chamber by said pump over the motor, said last mentioned means having aperture means provided in the upper portion of said shell over said motor.

4. In a mechanical refrigerator, a fluid-tight 0351118,! motor and compressor disposed inside said fluid-tight casing, a reservoir of lubricant contained within said casing, means disposed in said casing for pumping said lubricant to the bearing surfaces of the motor and compressor, and means adapted to cool said motor comprising a shell forming with said casing, a chamber, said chamber being connected to said pumping means, said shell having aperture means therein above said motor, said chamber providing a passageway for lubricant from the reservoir to the motor.

5. In a refrigerating machine, a compressor, a motor, a fluid tight casing for the motor and compressor, and a combined lubricating and cooling system including a casing sealed to and disposed inside said first-named casing, an oil reservoir, a pump within said first-named casing. connect- :5

ing means between said pump and the chamber formed between said casings, and means contained in the second casing for releasing oil pumped thereto over said motor.

6. In mechanical refrigeration apparatus, the combination of a fluid-tight casing, a motor compressor unit for translating refrigerant gas disposed within the casing, said motor-compressor unit having its inlet communicating with the interior of the casing and having its outlet extending exteriorly of the casing, whereby relatively low-pressure gas prevails within the casing, said casing having an external, fluid-cooled, heatdissipating surface, means disposed within the casing and forming with the heat dissipating surface thereof a lubricant cooling chamber, and means for circulating lubricant in contact with heated surfaces of the motor-compressor unit and the lubricant cooling chamber, whereby the motor-compressor unit is cooled by the refrigerant gas in the casing and by the circulation of lubricant.

7. In refrigeration apparatus, the combination of a fluid-tight casing containing, in its lower portion. a body of liquid having lubricating qualities and containing, in its upper remaining portion, refrigerant gas, said casing having an upper, fluid-cooled, heat-dissipating surface, a motorcompressor unit located within said casing and disposed mostly in the refrigerant-gas-containing portion of the casing, said motor-compressor unit having a refrigerant gas inlet communicating with the interior of the casing, whereby relatively low pressure gas prevails therein, and means for circulating lubricant from the lower portion of the casing into contact with the upper heat-dissipating surface of the casing to cool the lubricant and for directing lubricant which has been cooled over heated portions of the motor-compressor unit to bathe and cool the same.

8. In refrigeration apparatus, the combination of a fluid-tight casing containing, in its lower portion, a body of liquid having lubricating qualities and containing, in its upper remaining portion, refrigerant gas, said casing having an upper heat-dissipating portion, a motor-compressor located within said casing anddisposed mostly in the refrigerant gas-containing portion thereof, resilient means for supporting the motor-compressor unit in said casing in spaced relation thereto, said motor-compressor unit having a refrigerant gas inlet communicating with the interior of the casing, whereby relatively low pressure gas prevails therein, and means for circulating lubricant from the lower portion of the casing into contact with the upper heat-dissipating portion of the casing and for directing said cooled lubricant over heated portions of the motorcompressor unit to bathe and cool the same.

9. In mechanical refrigerating apparatus, the combination of walls forming a sealed casing having a substantial heat dissipating surface, said casing providing, in its lower portion, a lubricant collecting chamber, a compressor for refrigerant gas and a motor for driving the compressor disposed within the casing, means for supporting the motor and compressor within the casing and in spaced relation with respect thereto, said compressor having its inlet communicating freely with the casing for receiving refrigerant gas from the casing, whereby the suction pressure of the compressor prevails within the casing, a fixed baflie member disposed adjacent to an upper wall of the casing for forming a film of lubricant upon the inner surface of the heat dissipating walls of the casing, whereby said lubricant is cooled, said baiile member embodying aperture means for draining lubricant therethrough downwardly over the motor for abstracting heat from the latter, and a pump driven by the motor for conveying lubricant collected in the bottom portion of said casing to the space intervening between the battle member and the casing.

10. In refrigeration apparatus, the combination of a fluid-tight casing containing, in its lower portion, a body of liquid having lubricating qualities and containing, in its upper and remaining portion, refrigerant gas, said casing having a fluid-cooled heat dissipating surface, a motorcompressor unit for refrigerant gas located within said casing and disposed mostly in the refrigerant-gas-containlng portion of the casing, said motor-compressor receiving its refrigerant gas directly from the interior of the casing, whereby low pressure gas prevails therein, means for circulating said liquid having lubricating properties from the lower portion of the casing to the upper portion of the casing and means disposed at least partly in the upper portion of the casing for both cooling some of said liquid by filming the same against the heat dissipating surface of the casing and for directing some of said liquid over heated portions of the motor-compressor unit to cool the same, said film of liquid which is in contact with the casing being spaced from and out of physical contact with said heated portions of the motor-compressor unit.

11. In mechanical refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a sealed casing, a portion of the walls of which form a heat dissipating surface, a compressor for refrigerant gas and a motor for driving the compressor disposed within the casing, means for resiliently supporting the motor and compressor within the casing and in spaced relation thereto, a lubricant reservoir formed in the lower portion of the casing, said compressor receiving its refrigerant gas directly from the interior of the casing, whereby the suction pressure of the compressor prevails within the casing, a bailie member in the casing extending above the motor and located near the upper surface of the casing for establishing a film of liquid between the heat dissipating surface of the casing and the baiile structure, whereby the lubricant is cooled within the casing, said baiiie structure embodying aperture means for draining lubricant downwardly over the motor, whereby the motor is cooled and the lubricant is heated, and a pump driven by the motor for raising lubricant from the reservoir to the space intervening between the baille structure and the casing.

12. In refrigeration apparatus, the combina tion of a fluid-tight casing containing, in its lower portion, a body of liquid having lubricating qualities and containing, in its upper and remaining portion, refrigerant gas, said casing having an externally cooled heat dissipating surface portion, a motor-compressor unit for refrigerant gas located within said casing and disportion of the casing and receiving liquid from said pump for both creating a. film of said liquid against the inner surface of said heat dissipatina easing portion to cool the liquid and for directing some oi said liquid downwardly over heated portions of the motor-compressor unit to cool the motor-compressor unit. said film of liquid which is in contact with the casing being spaced 1mm and out of physical contact with said heated portions 0! the motor-compressor unit.

MATSON O. TERRY.

DISCLAIMER 2,040,507.Matson 0. Terry, Detroit, Mich. Pour ron REFRIGERATION APPARATUS. Patent dated May 12, 1936. Disclaimer filed February 12, 1944, by the assignee, Westinghouse Elect-i0 d: Manufacturing Company. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claime7, 8, 10, and 12.

[Qfim'al Gazette Marph 21, I944] 

